Bimini Lights

[airabvi]

Hi All, 

I'm researching cockpit/bimini lights for our 42DS.  I'm finding really hard to locate anything which really seems like it gives a nice ambient light for cocktails/dinner.

I've found a possible LED light which will mount on the dodger frame, hardwired with a switch, but before I splash out (I can only seem to find in Europe and so pricey once shipped to Caribbean via USA), I thought I'd see if anyone has better ideas. 

Already have Luci light and have gone through a few cheap "light strings" but this is to find something hard wired and durable.

Thanks in advance!

Rebecca from Aira

[NZL50505]

Sorry no answer for you but will watch this with interest as I have the same wish...

[gosportbluemist]

i have fitted this to our 42DS, works well, sorry its a UK store. 


www.furneauxriddall.com/acatalog/Bimini-Lights.html

[Zanshin]

I have found a good solution on "Zanshin". I bought a digital dimmer and wired that in, the switch is identical to the other light switches I have at the outside console. Then I bought flexible LED strips that are weather protected (IP65); these are not expensive since they are commodity items.

Then I attached them to the bottom of the bimini - using the 2 metal support bars and thin fishing line. The fishing line is wrapped in a spiral to hold the flexible LED strip in place and once attached you cannot even see it. When the season is over and it is time to take down the bimini, I just cut the fishing line and the LED strips drop down and are stored for the next season.

The lights are so bright that I almost always have them dimmed halfway, even for reading books outside at night. And at the lowest level with the LEDs just barely glowing it makes the boat easy to identify from afar; which is helpful when dinghying home late at night and perhaps no longer 100% sober...

Here's a picture as I'm putting it up with some additional line:

[moonshadow]

I recently added a nice lighting system to my Bimini. I had a clear strip added to the under side of my Bimini. I bought a reel of 4 color LED light strips from superbrightLEDS.com and a remote controller. For stiffening I had some 22ga stainless steel strips cut 3/4 inch wide and mounted the lights on these. Then easy to slip the steel/LED strip inside the clear window. I used two strips in parallel about 6 ft long each. I can control white intensity in 9 steps and have any color for night sailing etc at any level. And with wireless control I can light up the cockpit from below if needed, or from the dinghy. I was running cables for solar anyway so I routed to 12 v wires with them, but could easily run a 12 v line inside the Bimini support tubing.
I wish I could figure out how to post photos.

[moonshadow]

Zanshin’s solution is easier!

[Tafika II]

We use two of these...Mantus Lights

[Hawk]

Ditto the Mantus snap on lights. Fits on the bimini frame and has white, as well as red light, which is excellent when on watch at night in the cockpit. Also installed a string of LED colour lights under the cockpit table for some ambiance:)

[airabvi]

May 26, 2020 6:40:16 GMT gosportbluemist said:

i have fitted this to our 42DS, works well, sorry its a UK store. 


www.furneauxriddall.com/acatalog/Bimini-Lights.html

Thats exactly what I was looking at... good to hear it works well, fortunately have found an Italian supplier who will ship to US.  

What's the light brightness like?  And are the lights solid or flimsy?

help from all much appreciated!  I think when the Bimini comes off this season an idea like the clear panels may also be undertaken...

[airabvi]

May 26, 2020 6:58:33 GMT Zanshin said:

I have found a good solution on "Zanshin". I bought a digital dimmer and wired that in, the switch is identical to the other light switches I have at the outside console. Then I bought flexible LED strips that are weather protected (IP65); these are not expensive since they are commodity items.

Then I attached them to the bottom of the bimini - using the 2 metal support bars and thin fishing line. The fishing line is wrapped in a spiral to hold the flexible LED strip in place and once attached you cannot even see it. When the season is over and it is time to take down the bimini, I just cut the fishing line and the LED strips drop down and are stored for the next season.

The lights are so bright that I almost always have them dimmed halfway, even for reading books outside at night. And at the lowest level with the LEDs just barely glowing it makes the boat easy to identify from afar; which is helpful when dinghying home late at night and perhaps no longer 100% sober...

Here's a picture as I'm putting it up with some additional line:

Hi Zanshin, am I right in thinking you are the boat who was on the dock with us in Sopers Hole?  (We were next to the T-head with the two dis-obedient dogs!). I hope you had successful onward travels!

[Zanshin]

I was indeed that boat. It turns out that my back injuries were worse than I thought, but I'm doing well and the boat is in "quarantine" at Nanny Cay until after the hurricane season. Not more than 50 yards from where she was damaged during Irma... How are you doing and where are you?

[zaphod]

Right now we are just using a simple battery powered light string that I tuck into the frame of the bimini. We also have a set of 3 led candles for the table to add to the ambiance. Total cost about $15.

Something permanently installed might be nice, but sometimes we like to fold the bimini back and have open air. Perhaps some hardwired lighting in the dodger?

[airabvi]

May 26, 2020 17:48:34 GMT Zanshin said:

I was indeed that boat. It turns out that my back injuries were worse than I thought, but I'm doing well and the boat is in "quarantine" at Nanny Cay until after the hurricane season. Not more than 50 yards from where she was damaged during Irma... How are you doing and where are you?

I'm sorry to hear that, I hope you are on your way to making a full recovery.  We are permanently based here in the BVI, and territorial waters are closed for recreational boating still, so Aira is sitting bored in Sopers Hole while we wait for restrictions to end.

[Zanshin]

While I was at the docks next to you I thought I'd just bruised my back but when I returned to Europe and got X-Rays it turns out that I had 2 badly broken, 1 cracked and potentially another broken vertebrae! The only reason I was at that dock was due to getting permission to dock prior to clearing C&I but I liked that location and will return sometime!
How are the dogs and your daughter doing? Friends of mine were in isolation with 2 kids in their house and both had to work-from-home so they had a rather difficult time of it!
I've been told by Nanny Cay that because I'm in the deep corner I won't be able to get my boat out until November 15th. Since she's not more than 50 yards from where she was damaged during Irma I'm not feeling too good about this situation

When will the restrictions be lifted? It looks like some cats have been moving around to White Bay and Cane Garden in recent days...

[gosportbluemist]

May 26, 2020 17:08:49 GMT airabvi said:

May 26, 2020 6:40:16 GMT gosportbluemist said:

i have fitted this to our 42DS, works well, sorry its a UK store. 


www.furneauxriddall.com/acatalog/Bimini-Lights.html

Thats exactly what I was looking at... good to hear it works well, fortunately have found an Italian supplier who will ship to US.  

What's the light brightness like?  And are the lights solid or flimsy?

help from all much appreciated!  I think when the Bimini comes off this season an idea like the clear panels may also be undertaken...

I have fitted it under my solar pannel on the frame, good light, well built as its a molded unit, so safe in the ellements, my only issue is the cable tail is short. 

[alex1949]

I went Zanshin way long time ago. Took my Bimini  to a sawing machine and added a transparent .5" plastic pipe across the Bimini,
2 meters in my case. bought a  water proof white\red (cold white for brightness) 12v led strip and just installed it through the pipe facing down ( those strips can be cut to measure and rewired again DIY )  wired  and connect it  to a 3 way button on my main switch box and I have a wonderful natural bright white light for any use, along with a red light used while night trips that needs some cockpit night illumination.  very cheap and very efficient. If you'll buy a 5 meter led strip you can do same in your boat hiding the led and get a very nice internal light very low consumption and at almost no cost.

[airabvi]

May 27, 2020 15:56:35 GMT Zanshin said:

While I was at the docks next to you I thought I'd just bruised my back but when I returned to Europe and got X-Rays it turns out that I had 2 badly broken, 1 cracked and potentially another broken vertebrae! The only reason I was at that dock was due to getting permission to dock prior to clearing C&I but I liked that location and will return sometime!
How are the dogs and your daughter doing? Friends of mine were in isolation with 2 kids in their house and both had to work-from-home so they had a rather difficult time of it!
I've been told by Nanny Cay that because I'm in the deep corner I won't be able to get my boat out until November 15th. Since she's not more than 50 yards from where she was damaged during Irma I'm not feeling too good about this situation

When will the restrictions be lifted? It looks like some cats have been moving around to White Bay and Cane Garden in recent days...

Oh my, no wonder you were in pain, I do hope you are recovering swiftly now.
Luckily we also have a house on the island so were able to re-locate up there for the lockdown, I can't even imagine how we could have managed on the boat not being able to go ashore... (I suspect the dogs may have had their freedom.... ), so we actually all had a great time.  I know that was not the case for most!
I did see Zanshin in the yard, she is tucked away a little now, but our spot is out on the breakwater - I know where I would rather be if we have another blow come by this year.

Now we can move around, providing we keep with the limits set out by gvmt - which are reasonable so that's not really an issue.  Its a little weird having every bay to ourselves, but there's no better time to cruise here I think!  .  

Hope to see you at the end of the year - I'm sure we will be in the same place!

[Zanshin]

I'm glad you fared well during the lockdown and the BVI anchorages without the hordes of charter boats must be a sight for sore eyes indeed! I just received word that the sailmakers have removed the bimini, dodger and genoa from "Zanshin" and that she's tied down. Nanny Cay has told me that I won't be able to get out until mid November. I did hear that non-belongers and non-permanent residents can return as of September.

Have fun and hopefully this hurricane season will be a mild one for the BVI, and see you later this year!

[Mistroma]

I hope that all remains well with Zanshin, Covid has probably left a lot of boats in less than ideal locations. At least Mistroma is safe ashore on frames and surrounded with thousands of others.

I meant to fit strip lights inside the awning but never got around to it after seeing in a temporary fix on a Swedish boat. They used a Coleman camping light which seemed worth a try until I fitted something better.




I saw them at silly prices (£30 in one chandlery) but only £15 elesewhere. Then I found a web-site selling them for £1.49 including delivery and Duracell batteries. I assumed that they must be fake but the company had been around for a while and seemed genuine. I ordered 3 and paid a total of £7.42 including delivery, fully expecting them to be rubbish but OK for a temporary solution. Sold out very quickly and offer never repeated.

As far as I could tell, they were genuine and excellent quality. Worth it for the Duracell batteries alone (they lasted for ages).

I'm afraid to say I never got around to fitting a permanent solution. I hang one from a D-ring already fitted to the awning and hang the other inside the sprayhood (magnet slides inside the folded section in front of the handhold). One on mid-setting is usually enough but sometimes use both on lowest setting.

[airabvi]

May 25, 2020 22:17:51 GMT airabvi said:

Hi All, 

I'm researching cockpit/bimini lights for our 42DS.  I'm finding really hard to locate anything which really seems like it gives a nice ambient light for cocktails/dinner.

I've found a possible LED light which will mount on the dodger frame, hardwired with a switch, but before I splash out (I can only seem to find in Europe and so pricey once shipped to Caribbean via USA), I thought I'd see if anyone has better ideas. 

Already have Luci light and have gone through a few cheap "light strings" but this is to find something hard wired and durable.

Thanks in advance!

Rebecca from Aira

Wanted to thank everyone for their help with this thread - I've finished installation of the light mentioned below by gosportbluemist.  Bolted into the spray hood frame, then wired into the cabin lighting run above the ceiling in the aft head.  It has it's own switch which makes installation very easy.

It gives a strong light which was a little bright to start after months of a dimly lit cockpit, but we've got used to it and quite enjoy seeing our dinner.  I'm also happy to have a proper light in the cockpit should it be needed in a night time emergency.  I've got a red led to install on the back of the chart plotter on the cockpit table to provide some safe night light and hopefully something more ambient for cocktails!  

[Deleted]

You could use SeaSense LED Bimini light, This light gives off a good amount of light and it is easy to attach.

[Trevor]

Hello airabvi,

Please look at this post originally by optimistic.

jeanneau.proboards.com/thread/3395/cockpit-led-lighting

It suggests a strip of LED under the cockpit table to allow soft ambient lighting in the cockpit. I installed it myself with great results. The beauty of this solution is you can power the lighting from the original cockpit table light circuit. Simply put another switch beside the original and power the led strip from the voltage source.

It has to be one the simplest and most effective modifications we have made.

Regards,

Trevor

[airabvi]

Hi Trevor, 

Thanks for that link, great idea!

Rebecca